In a letter to the university community, Nietzel said he decided in August that he needed a change. Members of the Board of Governors insist Nietzel isn't leaving for another opportunity.

In a letter to the campus, Nietzel wrote that the presidency is a "very public, demanding and complex."

"I have concluded that I cannot continue to do that job at a level of achievement that I want from myself and that the university has every right to expect," Nietzel wrote.

Faculty and the board that hired Nietzel batted back speculation that a bleak budget picture -- outlined in recent university town hall meetings -- is the reason that he decided to quit.

"I think that makes the president's job a challenging one, a difficult one but I can't imagine that's the thing that's caused the president to make this decision," said economics professor Tom Wyrick.

"I don't think he was bogged down on the budget. He had better ideas than I would have. I just think he may have some personal issues, family issues," said Board of Governors member Gordon Elliott of Springfield.

Unstated in his letter is his wife's health. Sandy Nietzel is battling throat cancer. Board member Mary Sheid suggested her needs could have factored into the decision.

"She's had extensive treatment and I don't think all her problems are completely resolved at this point," said Sheid. "Balancing family and the needs of the university and the demands of being president . . . I just think the culmination of trying to balance everything did take its toll."

Nietzel was out of Springfield this weekend for his son's wedding. The university said he would be available to answer reporters' questions at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Here's the announcement that went out from Nietzel's office on Monday at 3 p.m.

Members of the Campus Community:

On this past Friday afternoon, I informed the Board of Governors of my desire to resign as President of Missouri State University at some point in 2010. I told the Board that I would be willing to remain in my position until December 31, 2010, in order to give the University a good opportunity to conduct a thorough, national search for the next President. However, I am also prepared to step down as soon as the Board finalizes its search and the next President is ready to begin the position. I have asked the Board to begin its search process in as timely a manner as possible.

It is very hard to know when to step away from a job you love. I am in that dilemma. I am proud to be President of Missouri State University. It is an invigorating job. The Board of Governors has been an exceptionally good group for whom to work. My colleagues at MSU - administrators, faculty, and staff - are superb. The students are a daily reward. The Ozarks region brings most of the daily pleasures of life that anyone could want.

But I decided in August that my time to resign is here. At both the personal and professional levels, I want and need a change. The Presidency of MSU is a very public, demanding, and complex job. I have concluded that I cannot continue to do that job at a level of achievement that I want from myself and that the University has every right to expect from its President.

I also believe that by announcing this decision now, I can help the University be in a better position regarding its future because it will be able to develop its next long-range plan under the direction of a new President who will be here to see that vision through, just as I was able to do when I came to MSU in 2005.

At this point, I do not have any specific plans after resignation. I may stay here on the faculty and teach for awhile. I may tackle some writing projects that have tempted me. I may just gather some moss. Endings of this kind hold both a lure and a fear, but as Tennessee Williams said, "There is a time for departure, even when there is no certain place to go."

I look forward to working with all of you in the next several months, just as I have enjoyed our journey up to this point. We have a lot of good work to do together in 2010, and I ask your help in making certain the University continues to succeed.

Best regards,

Mike Nietzel
President
----

Part of a news release from MSU:

His contract entitles him a semester sabbatical at full pay or a year sabbatical at half-pay. He also is a tenured faculty member in the Missouri State psychology department.

The Board of Governors will develop a plan for the search process in the near future, according to Board Chair Brian Hammons from Stockton.

“Obviously, all of us on the Board of Governors are saddened to think about Dr. Nietzel not being our president,” said Hammons. “He has been a great leader for the university and a strong spokesperson for higher education in the State of Missouri. By any measure, the past four years under Dr. Nietzel have been tremendous years for Missouri State. He will be missed and he will be very difficult to replace.

“We very much appreciate Dr. Nietzel giving us 14 months’ notice to allow for a smooth transition. The Board will act promptly to organize a search process that will occur during 2010 and lead to a new president being hired to start in early 2011.”

Over the past 4+ years under Nietzel’s leadership, the university made a number of changes and improvements in academics and faculty, research, finances, access for students, facilities, fund-raising, and alumni/community/state relations.

“I know Dr. Nietzel has been wrestling with this since early in the summer,” said Paul Kincaid, Nietzel’s chief of staff. “It has been a difficult for him, but he is confident that it is the best decision.

“The university will miss his leadership. He has great ideas and knows how to sell them. He is equally comfortable and effective with faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, and legislators. And he has the ability to build strong, mutually beneficial relationships for the university. He has a combination of talent and skills that is hard to find.

“Like all of us, I think his goal was to leave the university in better shape than it was when he arrived. He definitely succeeded.”

Nietzel began July 1, 2005, as the university's ninth president. He came to Missouri State from the University of Kentucky where he had been for 32 years, the last four as provost.
----

MSU news release from May 14, 2009: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Having completed a successful first four years at Missouri State University, President Mike Nietzel has agreed to a new four-year contract with the Board of Governors. The new contract, which begins July 1, runs through June 30, 2013, and replaces the current contract which had three years remaining on it.

The new contract was announced today by Board of Governors Chair Mike Duggan, Chesterfield, following the Board's regular meeting and executive session. In making the announcement, Duggan emphasized the Board's support for Nietzel

"By any metric you want to use, the past four years under Dr. Nietzel have been tremendous years for Missouri State University," said Duggan. "The Board continues to be very pleased with all aspects of the university, from enrollment and academics to fund-raising and governmental relations. And, we look for more of the same in the future."

Duggan also said it was time for a totally new contract.

"When we hired Dr. Nietzel in 2005, the contract was designed to attract an outstanding person to be president," explained Duggan. "Now, in 2009 with four years of experience, we needed a contract designed to retain the president. Therefore, the Board agreed that we needed to rewrite the document, not just add another year to the existing document."

Nietzel's new contract, effective July 1, 2009, with the new fiscal year, calls for him to be paid using the same salary pool increases as other employees. Since there will not be any salary increases for 2009-10, Nietzel's salary will remain at its current level: $267,372. He will continue to hold the Missouri State University Leadership Chair, which was endowed in 2008 as a joint project of the current, past and student members of the Board of Governors/Board of Regents. Nietzel was the first recipient of the chair.

Most of the major elements of the contract remain the same. Nietzel will receive various benefits, including a housing allowance, use of a car and a country club membership. The major change is an increase in the retention incentive.

Should Nietzel remain as president through June 30, 2010, he will receive an incentive payment of $50,000, which was included in the first contract. If he remains through June 30, 2011, he will receive another payment of $50,000. If he remains through June 30, 2012, he will receive a payment of $75,000. And, if he completes the fourth year of the contract, he will receive a retention incentive payment of $125,000.

"The Board's primary job is to hire and retain the best president possible for the university,: said Duggan. "That is exactly what we are attempting to do with this contract. The retention incentives are based on performance and designed to keep Dr. Nietzel as president not for two years or three years, but for the full four years of the contract."

Nietzel had been at the University of Kentucky for 32 years. He was named provost of the University of Kentucky on Nov. 1, 2002. Nietzel was also professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky. He held a joint appointment on the faculty of the University of Kentucky College of Law. Prior to being named provost, he served as acting provost for 18 months and as dean of the Graduate School for four years.

Nietzel joined the faculty at the University of Kentucky in 1973 as an assistant professor. He was promoted to associate professor in 1977 and professor in 1981. From 1977-90, Nietzel served as director of the Clinical Psychology Training Program at the University of Kentucky. In 1991, he was named chair of the department of psychology and he completed a second term as chair in 1997.

He received his B.A. from Wheaton College in 1969, and his M.A. degree in 1972 and his Ph.D. in 1973, both from the University of Illinois.

Nietzel's research interests include the areas of forensic psychology, jury decision-making and the assessment of psychotherapy outcomes. He has written several leading books and more than 85 scholarly articles in these areas. He has served on the editorial boards of numerous journals in the areas of clinical psychology and legal psychology, and he has been elected a Fellow in both the American Psychology Association and the American Psychology Society.
----